Tempo terminology
| Marking | Meaning | BPM range |
|---|---|---|
| Larghissimo | very, very slow | under 20 |
| Grave | very slow, solemn | 20–40 |
| Largo | broadly, slow | 40–60 |
| Adagio | slow, at ease | 66–76 |
| Andante | at a walking pace | 76–108 |
| Moderato | moderately | 108–120 |
| Allegro | fast, cheerful | 120–156 |
| Vivace | lively | 156–176 |
| Presto | very fast | 176–200 |
| Prestissimo | extremely fast | 200+ |
Practice tips
- Start slower than feels necessary — accuracy at 60 BPM builds speed at 120 BPM faster than struggling at 120 does.
- Raise tempo in 5 BPM steps; when a step breaks down, drop back one step and repeat.
- Practice hard passages as subdivisions (two clicks per beat) before returning to the main pulse.
- Land notes on the click, not around it — record yourself to check you are not rushing or dragging.
- Silence the metronome for a bar (mute mentally, keep counting) to test whether your internal clock holds.
Quick Answer
A metronome is a tool that plays a steady click at a tempo you set, measured in beats per minute (BPM). This free online metronome runs entirely in your browser: set 30–300 BPM by slider or tap tempo, pick a time signature, and accent the downbeat to keep perfect time while you practice. Because it schedules sound against your audio hardware clock, it never drifts over long sessions.
How It Works
Set your tempo: drag the BPM slider, type a number from 30 to 300, or use Tap Tempo — tap in time with your music and the speed of your last 4 taps is averaged
Pick your time signature — 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, or 12/8 — so beats group and accent correctly
Leave "Accent first beat" on for a brighter click on the downbeat, then press Start
Play along with your notes landing exactly on the click; watch the red dot for the downbeat
Speed up gradually: raise the tempo in 5 BPM steps once the passage is clean
Adjust volume with the slider any time — clicks stay perfectly in sync
Key Facts
- Tempo range of 30–300 BPM via slider, number input, or 4-tap tap tempo
- Time signatures: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8
- Accent on the downbeat with a brighter click, switchable on or off
- Drift-free scheduling against the Web Audio hardware clock, not setInterval
- Visual beat dots pulse in sync with the clicks you hear
- Adjustable volume with click-free 5 ms click envelopes
- 100% client-side — nothing is recorded, uploaded, or tracked
- Free to use with no sign-up and no limits
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 120 BPM mean?
BPM stands for beats per minute. A metronome at 120 BPM plays 120 clicks every 60 seconds — exactly two clicks per second. 120 BPM is a common pop and rock tempo; 60 BPM equals one click per second and is handy for practicing long tones or steady breathing exercises.
How do I use a metronome when practicing?
Start slow: pick a tempo where you can play the passage cleanly, then stay there until it feels automatic. Raise the tempo in small steps (5 BPM at a time) rather than jumping. For tricky runs, practice them as subdivisions — two or four clicks per beat — before returning to the normal pulse. Always line your notes exactly on the click rather than around it.
What is tap tempo?
Tap tempo lets you find the speed of music you are listening to: tap the button in time with the beat and the metronome sets itself to your tempo. This tool measures your last four taps and averages them, so small timing mistakes average out and the BPM is accurate.
What tempo is largo, adagio, or presto?
Traditional Italian tempo markings map roughly to BPM ranges: Largo 40–60, Adagio 66–76, Andante 76–108, Moderato 108–120, Allegro 120–156, Vivace 156–176, and Presto 176–200 BPM. These are conventions rather than hard rules — a march marked Moderato at 110 BPM can feel quicker than an Allegro in slow 3/2.
Why do the clicks never drift over time?
The metronome schedules each click using the Web Audio API hardware clock (audioContext.currentTime), not JavaScript timers. Every click is scheduled exactly one beat interval after the previous one, so timing error never accumulates — even if the browser tab throttles timers for a moment.
Is this metronome free and private?
Yes. It is completely free with no sign-up, and every calculation and sound runs locally in your browser — no audio is recorded, and nothing is sent to any server. It keeps working after the page loads, even offline.